Catholics and Music

[Revelation21.3-4]

Thank you so much for your response. I understand that completely. I don’t mean to make the Catholic faith seem super hard, I’ve been in their shoes before somewhat. I’ll think harder next time on the way I phrase my questions, the last thing I want to do is scare people away from God. I appreciate your willingness to be an advocate for the faith!

Thank you again for your responses.

 

[Revelation21.3-4]

Thank you so much! I’ll be sure to check that out! I also think I’ll be checking Vivaldi out, I never knew there was a composer who was also a Catholic priest!

 

[Angel_Bradford]

It’s not the genre; it’s the words that matter.

 

[RolandThompsonGunner]

Why must anyone that inquires about aspirations towards holiness be patronized and dismissed as scrupulous, in this forum?

These questions are usually framed as something that Catholics in general should do or not do. People who ask questions like that are often confused about what the Church actually teaches, or they’re starting from faulty assumptions. There is no reason a Catholic can’t like rock music, hip-hop, jazz, folk, country, whatever.

If the question was framed as “I am looking for some good Gregorian chants or hymns, any suggestions?” no one would bat an eye. It’s not that he wants to listen to more religious music; it’s that he apparently believes we as Catholics are obliged to avoid secular music, which is simply not true.

 

[RolandThompsonGunner]

I don’t feel morally obligated to listen only to chanting, it’s just something I was attracted to, so I thought I’d give it a chance, mixed in with some other music though. I had always had some moral problems with my music, so I thought I’d find something that doesn’t have those problems, I figured this was a place to start.

It’s totally fine to want to listen to Gregorian chanting. It’s beautiful. It’s also fine if you’re concerned that a certain type of music is bad for you spiritually and you decide to avoid it. You just have to recognize that that applies to you. It’s not something that is a part of Catholicism in general.

It’s like if I was allergic to shellfish. I might decide it’s prudent for me to avoid it, but I wouldn’t start claiming that Catholics in general need to avoid shrimp and oysters.

Also, please know I’m not coming down on you or anything. Just trying to offer some food for thought.

 

[Revelation21.3-4]

Also, please know I’m not coming down on you or anything. Just trying to offer some food for thought.

I try to give people the benefit of the doubt and assume that they truly are just try to help, so I believe you, thank you. You’ve definitely given me food for thought. I wouldn’t try to enforce my music tastes onto other people, everyone has a different path made by God, and my path wasn’t meant for anyone but me. I just like to hear what people think on the issue. Thank you so much!

 

[otjm]

but how much of this good secular music should we take in? Is there a limit to this?

Some people - very few - are called to a life of contemplation. In theory, we could all approach that by giving up listening to music of any sort other than what might be termed “religious”; we could also give up listening to the news (as most of it has no real impact on our lives); we could forego any sort of entertainment; and the list goes on and one and on…

God calls us to honor and obey him, to use our talents for the good of others, to accept the crosses and sacrifices with equanimity, and to seek holiness.

But he does not call all of us to be Trappist monks or cloistered Dominican nuns.

Questions such as yours are good questions, but ultimately you need to make the determination.

I personally cannot stand the sound of a television in the background, and got rid of mine over 30 years ago; and I don’t know the latest local whatever; but my life does not seem empty because of it.

However, I do like background music and may have it on most of the time. And I probably have music from 10 or 15 different styles ans subsets of styles.

You need to spend some time in prayer daily; it would be very worthy to attend Adoration if it is available to you, and if you have a schedule which allows you to attend Mass during the week as well as Sunday, I would encourage it.

As to how much time you spend listening to music - paying direct attention or just in the background, is entirely up to you. You have other matters in your life which have a higher priority, and how music fits in with the rest is entirely your choice.